Inflation in Pakistan continues its upward trajectory, with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reporting a 0.55% weekly increase and a 4.16% annual rise as of the latest figures.
Price Changes in Key Commodities
The PBS report highlights shifts in essential item prices:
- Significant Increases: Tomatoes (16.86%), eggs (5.01%), garlic (4.30%), LPG (4.10%), firewood (2.07%), and mustard oil (1.90%).
- Minor Reductions: Prices of bananas (-0.18%), gram lentils (-2.51%), mash lentils (-0.87%), chicken (-0.07%), and wheat flour (-0.01%).
Impact Across Income Groups
Inflation is affecting households differently based on income:
- Lowest Income Brackets: Households earning up to Rs17,732 saw a 0.83% weekly rise, with a 2.33% annual rate.
- Middle-Income Groups: Households earning Rs17,733–Rs22,888 experienced a 0.74% weekly increase, while those in the Rs22,889–Rs29,517 bracket saw a 0.62% rise.
- Higher Income Groups: The largest annual inflation (4.75%) was felt by households earning above Rs44,176, with a weekly increase of 0.44%.